Diego Forlan scores as Mumbai City FC ends Atletico de Kolkata’s unbeaten run

It seemed appropriate that Sony Norde and Sameehg Doutie would come closest to scoring in the first half, given that Thierry Henry, one of football’s best wide players in the last two decades, was watching.

It seemed appropriate that Sony Norde and Sameehg Doutie would come closest to scoring in the first half, given that Thierry Henry, one of football’s best wide players in the last two decades, was watching.

Atletico de Kolkata (red white) and Mumbai City FC players in action during ISL match in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)

Doutie failed to put Atletico de Kolkata ahead because he slipped after Iain Hume put the South African through and was denied by Romanian central defender Lucian Goian. But if Mumbai City FC’s Norde wasn’t on the scoresheet, it was because Debjit Majumder, the Haiti international’s teammate at Mohun Bagan for two seasons, had his number on Tuesday night.

Majumder could do nothing when Diego Forlan blasted home in the 78th minute leading to ATK’s first defeat of the season and taking Mumbai City FC to the top of the standings.

Norde, whose work ethic was applauded when he was substituted, had done the hard work. Having looked forlorn till then --- once he also had the ball easily taken away by Stephen Pearson --- Forlan scored after Norde’s pass took a deflection.

Two minutes later, he fisted out a Forlan free-kick even as Norde barrelled into him. Used in all six games by a coach who has played in goal for Spain, Majumder has shown he can make the jump from I-League to the ISL and, after Subhasish Roy Choudhury and Amrinder Singh, continued the trend of ATK playing Indian shot-stoppers who have been consistent.

Using three central defenders, Mumbai City FC crowded the midfield. They succeeded in the first half but ATK camped in the rival half for most of the second.

True, barring Hume’s try, saved on the rebound, the home team didn’t have clear chances but if substitutions indicate which team is in control, it could be had by ATK replacing central midfielder Pearson with striker Juan Beloncoso.

After the goal, ATK desperately lobbed deliveries into the box. Javi Lara’s free-kick after Hume was fouled was their last chance but goalie Albino Gomes saved it. “We showed we had character after some bad results,” said Goian.

Near the end of the match ATK coach Jose Molina was told to leave the field by referee Sandro Ricci.